Control device for elevator

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an elevator controller including: a main control unit for controlling running of an elevator, in which the main control unit predictively calculates a continuous temperature state of a predetermined componential equipment of the elevator and performs an operation control of the elevator based on the predicted temperature state such that the componential equipment is not overloaded. Accordingly, a temperature rise in the componential equipment is suppressed, thereby enabling to prevent the elevator from becoming inoperable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an elevator controller, and moreparticularly, to an elevator controller that prevents an equipment frombeing thermally overloaded.

BACKGROUND ART

As regards a controller that adjusts acceleration or deceleration ormaximum speed by changing a speed pattern or the like assigned to amotor used in an elevating machine or the like, depending on load ormoving distance, there have been developed controllers for preventing anequipment from being thermally overloaded.

An art concerning a conventional elevator controller of this kind isdisclosed in, for example, JP 2002-3091 A. This controller includes amain control unit for performing an operation control of the elevator, apower drive unit for driving a motor, and a thermal sensing deviceinstalled for an equipment that is getting hot when the elevator isbeing operated. The main control unit suppresses temperature rise of theequipment by performing a load suppressing operation on the basis oftemperature detection results of the thermal sensing device before theequipment becomes inoperable due to overheating, thus preventing theequipment from becoming inoperable. In this conventional art, adetermination on a load state of the equipment is made through acomparison between a temperature detection result or its rate of changeand a critical temperature of the equipment, and a changeover to theload suppressing operation is made, so that the equipment is preventedfrom becoming inoperable.

Further, a conventional controller that adjusts acceleration ordeceleration and maximum speed of a motor depending on load is disclosedin, for example, JP 7-163191 A. An elevator controller that adjustsacceleration or deceleration by changing a speed pattern or the likeassigned to a motor depending on load and a moving distance is disclosedin JP 9-267977 A.

In the aforementioned conventional apparatuses, a temperature rise ofthe equipment is suppressed by making a changeover to the loadsuppressing operation before the equipment reaches a drive-permittingcritical temperature, to thereby prevent deterioration in runningefficiency resulting from inoperability of the equipment. However, sincea timing at which the changeover to the load suppressing operation takesplace is determined based on an output result of the thermal sensingdevice or its temporal rate of change, a total amount of the temperaturerise in the end cannot be estimated with accuracy. Therefore, thechangeover timing to the load suppressing operation is not alwaysappropriate, which results in a problem in that running efficiency isdeteriorated.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made as a solution to the above-mentionedproblem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide anelevator controller that allows an elevator to be operated at a highrunning efficiency without exceeding a drive-permitting temperaturelimit by performing a suitable changeover in speed pattern or runningpattern of the elevator, which is attained by more accurately estimatinga future temperature state of an equipment through a predictivecalculation of a continuous temperature state of the equipment.

The present invention provides an elevator controller including: a maincontrol unit for controlling running of an elevator, in which the maincontrol unit predictively calculates a continuous temperature state of apredetermined componential equipment of the elevator and performs anoperation control of the elevator based on the predicted temperaturestate such that the componential equipment does not become overloaded.

According to the present invention, the elevator controller furtherincludes: a thermal sensing device that detects a temperature of thepredetermined componential equipment; and change amount input means forinputting a predetermined change amount (a drive input amount ortemperature rise amount) concerning the predetermined componentialequipment, in which the main control unit calculates a predicted valueof a continuous temperature state of the componential equipment usingthe temperature detected by the thermal sensing device and the changeamount inputted by the change amount input means.

According to the present invention, it is possible to run the elevatorat a high running efficiency without exceeding a drive-permittingtemperature limit by performing suitable changeover in speed pattern orrunning pattern of the elevator, which is attained by more accuratelyestimating a future temperature state of the predetermined componentialequipment of the elevator through a predictive calculation of acontinuous temperature state of the equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of an elevatorcontroller according to embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a speed pattern selecting procedure in theelevator controller according to the embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a speedpattern and an inverter current value in a common elevator as a controltarget of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data table inthe elevator controller according to the embodiment 2 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a speed pattern selecting procedure in theelevator controller according to the embodiment 2 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing statistical data on the numberof passengers or the number of starts in an elevator as a control targetof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data table inthe elevator controller according to the embodiment 3 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of another datatable in the elevator controller according to the embodiment 3 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a running mode selecting procedure in theelevator controller according to the embodiment 3 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for reducing acalculated amount in renewing a running mode in the elevator controlleraccording to the embodiment 3 of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, a construction of an embodiment of the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagramshowing an overall construction of an elevator controller according tothe embodiment 1 of the present invention and an elevator system as acontrol target. In the drawing, a main control unit 1 controls therunning of the elevator and is functionally different from theaforementioned conventional apparatuses. A power drive unit 2, which isconstructed of an inverter or the like for example, receives a commandfrom the main control unit 1 and drives a motor. The motor 4 raises orlowers a car 6 and a balance weight 7, which are coupled to each othervia a rope by rotating a hoisting machine 5. A thermal sensing device 3is installed in the power drive unit 2 to detect a temperature statethereof. A scale 8 is installed in the car 6 to detect a load within thecar. The power drive unit 2, the thermal sensing device 3, the motor 4,the hoisting machine 5, the car 6, the balance weight 7, and the scale 8are identical with those of the conventional apparatuses. Otherequipments whose temperature-rise should be monitored by the thermalsensing device 3 further include a motor or an inverter element. In thisembodiment, the power drive unit 2 is taken as an example in describingthis embodiment.

The operation of this embodiment will now be described.

The main control unit 1 receives an output from the thermal sensingdevice 3, calculates a temperature state of the equipment according to apreset temperature model, and controls the running of the elevator sothat the temperature of the equipment should not become excessivelyhigh. Examples of an operation control method include a method oflowering a temperature of the equipment through an operation of acooling unit such as a radiation fan or a heat pipe, and a method ofperforming a load suppressing operation by changing speed, accelerationor deceleration, or jerk (rate of change in acceleration ordeceleration) of the car. If the thermal sensing device 3 is notinstalled, a suitable initial temperature state is set instead of anoutput of the thermal sensing device 3. For instance, an averagetemperature on a typical day or an average temperature in each time zonein a region where the elevator is placed may be set as an initialtemperature. Furthermore, if an amount of change in temperature stateonly matters, it is sufficient to calculate merely a temperature riseamount, and there is no need to set an initial temperature.

The operation procedure of this embodiment will now be described withreference to FIG. 2.

First, in a step ST21, a call for the car from a passenger isregistered, and a destination floor is registered. At this moment, animbalance amount (car load) is calculated by the scale 8 installed inthe car 6, and a moving distance of the car 6 from a floor at which thecar 6 is currently stopped to the destination floor at which the car 6is to stop subsequently is calculated.

Then in a step ST22, an initial maximum speed value, an initialacceleration or deceleration value, and an initial jerk value, which arerequired in setting a speed pattern of the car 6 or the motor 4 fordriving the car 6, are set. An acceleration or deceleration, a maximumspeed, and a jerk can be set in a combined manner to constitute aplurality of sets, and their initial values are selected from theplurality of sets. An initial value may be set to a value set at thetime of the last drive, designated as a maximum value among settablevalues, set to an intermediate value among settable values, etc. Theinitial value is appropriately set according to a judgment made by amanufacturer or a user, a condition for use, an environment for use, orthe like.

In a step ST23, a temperature To of the power drive unit 2 is detectedby the thermal sensing device 3 and inputted to the main control unit 1.If the thermal sensing device 3 is not required as described above, thisstep ST23 is omitted or an appropriate initial value is set.

In a step ST24, a predicted value of a post-drive future temperature ofthe equipment (a continuous temperature state) is calculated accordingto a predetermined temperature model. This temperature model and atemperature calculation method using it will be described next.

First of all, the temperature model in the step ST24 will be described.

In this embodiment, the temperature model will be described as to a casewhere it is expressed as a function of a temperature To of the equipmentdetected in the step ST23 and a drive input amount for driving theequipment. However, the temperature model is not limited to that caseand can also be expressed as, for example, a function of the number ofstarts per unit time, the number of passengers. As examples of a modelform, there are a first-order lag system model and a second-order lagsystem model, which are expressed as transfer function models. When thetemperature model is expressed in a first-order lag system as anexample, it is expressed by the following equation 1. This example willbe described as follows. The equipment handled in this embodiment is aninverter, and its drive input amount is a current. $\begin{matrix}{{Equation}\quad 1\text{:}} & \quad \\{{T(s)} = {{\frac{a_{0}}{\left( {1 + {\tau_{1}s}} \right)}{i(s)}} + \left( {T_{0} - T_{b}} \right)}} & \quad\end{matrix}$

In the above equation, s represents a Laplace operator. The aboveequation is a Laplace transform of the temperature model. T(s)represents a predicted temperature of the equipment, and i(s) representsan absolute value of a current flowing through the inverter. Further, t₁represents a time constant. Herein, T_(b) represents a calculatedtemperature value calculated at the time of the last drive, and acalculation method thereof will be described later.

A transfer function as expressed by the following equation 2 may also beset as a temperature model. The equation 2 is larger in calculationamount but higher in approximation accuracy than the equation 1. Theequation 2 is a model with a cubic denominator and a quadric numerator.However, the respective orders can be arbitrarily set under theconstraint that the order of the denominator is equal to or larger thanthe order of the numerator. $\begin{matrix}{{Equation}\quad 2\text{:}} & \quad \\{{T(s)} = {{\frac{{a_{0}\left( {1 + {\tau_{4}s}} \right)}\left( {1 + {\tau_{5}s}} \right)}{\left( {1 + {\tau_{1}s}} \right)\left( {1 + {\tau_{2}s}} \right)\left( {1 + {\tau_{3}s}} \right)}{i(s)}} + \left( {T_{0} - T_{b}} \right)}} & \quad\end{matrix}$

These time constants or parameter values a₀, t₁, . . . , t₅ can be setby measuring a current value and a temperature rise amount in advance atthe time when the elevator is being driven under a certain loadcondition and subjecting those values to an experimental method such asleast square approximation or the like.

Being expressed by time segments, the equation 1 can be expressed as thefollowing differential equation. $\begin{matrix}{{Equation}\quad 3\text{:}} \\\left\{ \begin{matrix}{{\overset{.}{x}(t)} = {{{{- 1}/\tau_{1}}{x(t)}} + {i(t)}}} \\{{T(t)} = {{{a_{0}/\tau_{1}}{x(t)}} + \left( {T_{0} - T_{b}} \right)}}\end{matrix} \right.\end{matrix}$

It should be noted herein that x(t) represents an intermediate variable.It is well known that a transfer function such as the equation 1 or 2can be generally expressed by time segments as a differential equationsuch as the aforementioned equation 3. A solution of the equation 3 isexpressed as the following equation 4. Solutions of other transferfunctions are also expressed in a similar manner. $\begin{matrix}{{Equation}\quad 4\text{:}} & \quad \\{{T(t)} = {{{a_{0}/\tau_{1}}{\mathbb{e}}^{{{- 1}/\tau_{1}}t}{x(0)}} + {\int_{0}^{t}{{a_{0}/\tau_{1}}{\mathbb{e}}^{{- 1}/{\tau_{1}{({t - \tau})}}}{i(\tau)}{\mathbb{d}\tau}}} + \left( {T_{0} - T_{b}} \right)}} & \quad\end{matrix}$

Normally, a speed pattern in the case where the elevator moves upwardsand downwards once is indicated by A in FIG. 3, and an inverter currentpattern in that case is indicated by B in FIG. 3. However, an inputfunction is simplified (see the equation 4) by approximating i(t) as asteady-value function, as indicated by C in FIG. 3 which represents atime average of the magnitude of the current flowing through theinverter. Therefore, a temperature of the inverter can be more easilycalculated from the temperature model, and this calculation can becarried out by a more inexpensive calculator. The temperature model inthe step ST24 has been described hitherto.

The method of calculating a post-drive temperature of the equipment inthe step ST24 will now be described.

First of all, a speed pattern is calculated from the initial maximumspeed value, the initial acceleration or deceleration value, and theinitial jerk value of the car 6 set in the step ST22. Then, a torquepattern required in driving the hoisting machine by means of the motoraccording to the speed pattern can be calculated from the imbalanceamount and a mechanical model of the elevator. Then, an inverter currentvalue required in driving the motor 4 according to the torque patternand the speed pattern is calculated from a motor model.

Then, with this inverter current value set as an input value of theaforementioned temperature model, a predicted temperature of theequipment is calculated. At this moment, inverse Laplace transform of atransfer function is simplified by approximating a current value to aconstant value i(t) as described above, so it becomes easy to calculatea time response of the temperature. If a response time segment at thismoment is denoted by T_(d), T_(d) can be set arbitrarily, but it isnecessary to calculate a temperature at least while the inputted valueis not zero. When there is a time lag in the temperature model or whenthe temperature model has a large time constant, the temperature mayrise even after the inputted value became zero. Thus, T_(d) is set long.

In calculating a temperature value using the equation 4, an initialvalue x(0) is zero when the elevator is run for the first time. However,when the elevator is run for the second time or thenceforth, x(T_(d)),which is obtained through a calculation at the time when the elevator isrun last time, substitutes for the initial value x(0). T_(b) is alsozero when the elevator is run for the first time. However, when theelevator is run for the second time or thenceforth, T(T_(d)), which isobtained through a calculation at the time when the elevator is run lasttime, substitutes for T_(b). T₀-T_(d) is a correction term of thetemperature, and serves to absorb a difference between a predictedtemperature value calculated according to the temperature model and anactual temperature. In other words, a temperature state can be moreaccurately estimated by using an output of the thermal sensing device.

In a step ST25, it is determined whether or not the predictedtemperature of the equipment calculated in the step ST24 is within apreset allowable range. This determination is made according to whethera maximum value, an effective value, an average, or T(T_(d)) in the timeresponse segment (0≦t≦T_(d)) calculated in the aforementioned step ST22falls within the allowable range. An upper-limit value and a lower-limitvalue are set for the allowable range. If it is determined that thepredicted temperature falls within the allowable range, the elevator isstarted to be run at a set acceleration or deceleration, a set maximumspeed, and a set jerk. If it is determined that the predictedtemperature goes out of the allowable range, the process proceeds to aprocessing in a step ST26. The upper-limit temperature value, which isset to a temperature at which generated heat does not make the equipmentinoperable, prevents the elevator from becoming unable to be run. Thelower-limit value is set to prevent the running efficiency of theelevator from being reduced excessively. In consideration of the factthat a maximum acceleration or deceleration, a maximum jerk, and amaximum jerk are set among settable values, and in the case where atemperature calculation result indicates the lower-limit value or less,the running of the elevator may be started at the set acceleration ordeceleration, the set maximum speed, and the set jerk in a step ST27,instead of shifting the processing to the step ST26.

In the step ST26, an acceleration or deceleration value, a maximum speedvalue, and a jerk value are set again. In general, when the elevator isrun at a high speed, a high acceleration or deceleration, and a highjerk, a large current value tends to cause a great temperature rise.Therefore, when the upper-limit temperature value is exceeded, theacceleration or deceleration, the jerk, and the maximum speed are setagain to a set of values smaller than those set last time. Further, thelower-limit value is set, and when the temperature is below thelower-limit value, the acceleration or deceleration, the jerk, and themaximum speed are set again to a set of values larger than those setlast time. After that, the process returns to the processing in ST24.

For instance, when there are two combinations S1 and S2 of anacceleration or deceleration, a jerk, and a speed, the magnitudes ofS1=(α1, β1, v1) and S2=(α2, β2, v2) may be compared with each other byranking them with regard to the magnitudes of the accelerations ordecelerations α1 and α2, the jerks β1 and β2, or the maximum speeds v1and v2, or by defining functions composed of the respective values andcomparing the magnitudes of the functions with each other.Alternatively, their magnitudes may be compared with each other bycalculating time averages of input amounts inputted to the equipmentthat generates speed patterns calculated for S1 and S2 and comparing thecalculated time averages with each other.

Although the foregoing description shows an example in which theacceleration or deceleration value (acceleration, deceleration) and thejerk value (from activation to acceleration, from acceleration to speedconstancy, from speed constancy to deceleration, and from decelerationto stoppage) remain unchanged, they may be changed.

Although this embodiment deals with an example in which the thermalsensing device 3 is installed in the power drive unit 2 to prevent thepower drive unit 2 from being overloaded, it goes without saying thatthe hoisting machine 5 can be prevented from being overloaded if thethermal sensing device 3 is installed in the hoisting machine 5 and thepresent invention is applied thereto.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a total amount of thetemperature rise in the end can be accurately predicted irrespective ofthe value of a thermal time constant by calculating a predictedtemperature of the equipment by means of the temperature model, and anoperation control is performed such that the temperature does not exceedits upper-limit value. Therefore, it can avoid a situation in which theelevator is stopped because of a thermally overloaded operation.Moreover, by providing a lower limit as an allowable temperature value,the operation control of the elevator is performed so as to change overto an operation at a high speed, a high acceleration or deceleration,and a high jerk when the current temperature of the equipment has enoughleeway to reach the limit, thereby enhancing the running efficiency.

Embodiment 2

In this embodiment, a data table 10 as shown in FIG. 4 as an example isstored in the main control unit 1. Other constructional details of theembodiment 2 are identical with those shown in FIG. 1, so thedescription thereof is omitted herein, and FIG. 1 is simply referred to.The data table 10 has a data table whose inputs include a load withinthe car 6, a moving distance of the car 6, and a speed pattern of thecar 6 (an acceleration or deceleration, a maximum speed, and a jerk ofthe car 6), and whose outputs include a moving time of the car 6 for thespeed pattern and a drive input amount for driving the power drive unit2. This data table 10 is divided into p tables depending on the movingdistance of the car 6. The number p is determined according to adistance by which the car can move (the number of floors). The datatable 10 corresponding to a moving distance Lk (1≦k≦p) further outputs amoving time Wij_k of the car 6 and a drive input amount Uij_k inputtedto the equipment for a car load Hi (1≦i≦N) and a speed pattern (aj_k,βj_k, vj_k), (1≦j≦M). There are N combinations of the car load. Thisnumber N is set to a suitable vale, such as, for example, the prescribednumber of passengers, through a suitable division depending on anadoptable load. Using an acceleration or deceleration αj_k, a jerk βj_k,and a maximum speed vj_k of the car 6 as elements, the speed pattern isset as a plurality of modes such as a high speed mode (α1_k, β1_k,v1_k), a medium speed mode (α2_k, β2_k, v3_k), and a low speed mode(α3_k, β3_k, v_k).

The moving time Wij_k of the car as an output value can be calculatedfrom a car load, a speed pattern, and a moving distance. The drive inputamount Uij_k inputted to the equipment can also be calculated asdescribed in the embodiment 1. Through these calculations, theaforementioned data table 10 can be tabulated in advance.

The operation procedure of this embodiment will now be described usingFIG. 5. Each block where the same processing as in the embodiment 1 isperformed is denoted by the same reference symbol as in FIG. 2 and thedescription thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 5, in a step ST51 (candidate extracting means), whichfollows the steps ST21 and ST23 shown in FIG. 2, pairs of a moving timeand a drive input amount (Wi1_k, Ui1_k), . . . , (WiM_k, UiM_k)corresponding to all M speed patterns (αi1_k, βi1 _k, vi1_k), . . . ,(αiM_k, βiM_k, viM_k) are selected as candidates from the table of FIG.4, for the moving distance Lk and the car load Hi set in the precedingstep ST21.

In a step ST52 (predictive calculation means), a predicted temperaturevalue of the equipment is calculated according to the same procedure asin the step ST24 of the embodiment 1, using the drive input amountselected in the preceding step ST51 and the equipment temperaturedetected in the step ST23. A value in the table may be used as the driveinput amount. This calculation is carried out for all the M speedpatterns (αi1_k, βi1_k, vi1_k), . . . , (αiM_k, βiM_k, viM_k). It shouldbe noted that Tj represents a predicted temperature calculated for eachspeed patterns (αij_k, βij_k, vij_k) , (1≦j≦M).

Here as well, for the same reason as described in the embodiment 1, whena table value of a drive input amount is defined as a time average of aninput amount, calculation of a temperature value becomes easy and can beperformed by a more inexpensive calculator.

In a step ST53 (allowable range confirming means), as in the step ST25of the embodiment 1, it is determined whether the temperature valuecalculated in the preceding step ST52 falls within an allowable range,and the temperature values within the allowable range are selected ascandidates. In this embodiment, however, the lower-limit of theallowable range is set to zero, and all the speed patterns at or belowthe upper limit of the allowable range are selected.

In a step ST54 (speed pattern determining means), the moving times Wij_kcorresponding to the respective speed patterns selected in the step ST53are compared with one another, and a speed pattern corresponding to aminimum one of the moving times Wij_k is selected.

In this embodiment, as described above, a speed pattern corresponding toa minimum moving time within an allowable range of a temperature rise isselected, whereby the running efficiency of the elevator can beenhanced.

The following effect is also obtained in this embodiment. If there are ahigh-speed speed pattern and a low-speed speed pattern as speedpatterns, the low-speed speed pattern is invariably selected in making achangeover to an overload suppressing operation in the conventionalarts. This is because a comparison between the low-speed speed patternand the high-speed speed pattern reveals that the temperature value inthe low-speed speed pattern tends to be kept smaller, but at the expenseof a long moving time, than that in the high-speed speed pattern. Insome cases, however, the moving time is shorter in the high-speed speedpattern, which makes the total drive input amount small, so that thetemperature value is kept low as well. This is especially noticeable ina case where the moving distance is long. In the conventional arts, thelow-speed speed pattern is selected even in such a case. In the presentinvention, however, the high-speed speed pattern is selected.Accordingly, the speed patterns can be appropriately changed over fromone to the other, and the elevator can be operated while suppressing atemperature rise without decreasing the running efficiency needlessly.

The following can also be adopted in the step ST54.

For the speed patterns selected in the step ST53, a speed pattern thatminimizes an evaluation function using a temperature Tj and a movingtime Wij_k corresponding to each speed pattern as element is selected.If the evaluation function is defined as Tj for example, a speed patternminimizing a temperature rise is selected. If the evaluation function isdefined as Wij_k, a speed pattern corresponding to the shortest movingtime within the allowable range is selected. Further, if the evaluationfunction is defined as a×Wij_k+b×Tj using suitable positive values a andb, a trade-off between a temperature rise amount and a moving time canbe achieved by adjusting the values a and b. A speed pattern with areduced moving time is selected as the value a is increased as comparedwith the value b, whereas a speed pattern with a reduced temperaturerise is selected as the value a is decreased as compared with the valueb.

In this manner, a trade-off between a temperature rise amount and amoving time can be achieved, and the equipment can be operated on thesafe side without substantially decreasing the running efficiency.

In this embodiment, this evaluation function can be adjusted accordingto a time zone or a result of the thermal sensing device. For example,the temperature and the running efficiency can be adjusted according toa time zone by adjusting the evaluation function so as to reduce thetemperature when a value detected by the thermal sensing device 3 isclose to an allowable upper limit, and adjusting the evaluation functionso as to reduce the moving time when the current temperature has enoughleeway to reach the limit. Alternatively, the evaluation function may beset so as to suppress a temperature rise prior to the morning rushhours, and to enhance the running efficiency during the rush hours.Thus, it is expected to ease congestion and to reduce waiting time.

According to this embodiment, as described above, it is possible toachieve a trade-off between a temperature rise amount and a moving time,and to make an improvement in total running efficiency.

Although the combinations of the car load and the moving distance areset for all their assumable values in the data table 10 shown in FIG. 4in this embodiment, the number of the combinations may be reduced byintegrating, for example, the elements that are close to one another indrive input amount and moving time. Thus, the capacity of the data tableis reduced, which leads to reduction in storage capacity of the maincontrol unit 1. In the step S51 in this case, a running pattern closestto the car load and moving distance calculated in the step ST21 isselected.

Although a drive input amount is used to estimate a temperature state inthis embodiment, the temperature state can be estimated without usingthe drive input amount by employing a method such as calculating atemperature rise for a drive input amount in advance, obtaining atemperature rise for the number of starts or the number of passengersthrough a test or the like conducted with the aid of an actualequipment. Thus, the temperature state can be estimated by a moreinexpensive calculator.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, the main control unit 1 has statistical data on thenumber of passengers on (or the number of starts of) the elevator in apredetermined time segment. The data are expressed as, for example,time-series data shown in FIG. 6. Because other constructional detailsof the embodiment 3 are identical with those shown in FIG. 1, thedescription thereof is omitted, and FIG. 1 is simply referred to.

FIG. 6 shows, as statistical data, the number of passengers on (or thenumber of starts of) the elevator per hour from 0 a.m. on a certain dayto 0 a.m. on the following day. Therefore, the time segment is one day,which is an example and is set appropriately. Such statistical data canbe created by compiling data on the running of the elevator. Further,since the statistical data often assume a fixed shape in a case of anoffice building or a condominium building, only two kinds of data,namely, weekend data and weekday data may be provided.

The main control unit 1 has a data table 20 for a plurality of runningmodes as shown in FIG. 7 (q in FIG. 7 (q is an arbitrary value equal toor larger than 1)). In each of the running modes, a speed pattern (anacceleration or deceleration α*, a jerk β*, a maximum speed v* of a car)is set for a moving distance L* of the car and a car load H*. This speedpattern is set such that the performance of the motor 4 can beefficiently used according to the car load and the moving distance. Forexample, when the car load is balanced with the balance weight 7, a highacceleration or deceleration, a high jerk, and a high maximum speed areset. Where the moving distance is long, the maximum speed of the car isset to a large value. Where the moving distance is short, theacceleration or deceleration is set to a large value. Hereinafter, “*”represents a suitable suffix. A running mode is set according to thetransport capacity of the elevator. For example, a high maximum speed, ahigh acceleration or deceleration, and a high jerk are set in a runningmode 1, a medium maximum speed, a medium acceleration or deceleration,and a medium jerk each standing at 80% of a corresponding value in therunning mode 1 are set in a running mode 2, and a low maximum speed, alow acceleration or deceleration, and a low jerk each standing at 60% ofa corresponding value in the running mode 1 are set in a running mode 3.

A data table 30 as shown in FIG. 8 contains data on an average traveltime (or an average waiting time) w* and an average drive input amountQ* inputted to the equipment, which depend on a running mode and thenumber P* of passengers on (or the number of starts of) the elevator perunit time. The waiting time ranges from a time point when a passengercalls the elevator to a time point when the passenger boards the car 6.The travel time ranges from a time point when a passenger calls theelevator to a time point when the passenger arrives at a destinationfloor. The average waiting time and the average travel time are averagevalues calculated from each of the waiting time and the travel time perpassenger. The average drive input amount Q* is an average of a totalinput amount per unit time. It can be assumed without losing generalitythat P1<P2<P3< . . . <Pn. The aforementioned data table 30 can becalculated from an actual running record of the elevator, an incidencemodel (mathematical expression model) of passengers, and the like, bymeans of a calculator simulation or the like. As a rule, a highacceleration or deceleration, a high jerk, and a high maximum speed leadto a short average travel time and a short average waiting time, but toa large drive input amount inputted to the equipment. Further, thenumber of starts of the elevator generally increases as the number ofpassengers increases, so the drive input amount inputted to theequipment increases. Also, a large average drive input amount causes alarge load applied to the equipment and thus a temperature rise amountbecomes large. The present invention provides an elevator system thatselects a running mode in which the average waiting time and the averagetravel time are reduced insofar as the equipment is not overloaded,while ensuring a trade-off between the load amount of the equipment andthe waiting time or travel time of passengers.

A method of selecting such a running mode will be described using aflowchart of FIG. 9. The following description will be made as to a casewhere the statistical data shown in FIG. 6 are used.

First of all, in a step ST91 (running result input means), a suitabletime is selected from a time zone including a current time t₀ and set asan evaluation time segment, and the numbers of passengers (or thenumbers of starts) during that evaluation time segment are arranged in atime-series manner. For instance, a current time of 0:00 and anevaluation time segment of three hours result in (Pa, Pb, Pc). Then, thethermal sensing device 3 detects a temperature of the equipment.

Then in a step ST92 (candidate extracting means), all combinations ofrunning modes adoptable in FIG. 8 are listed in a manner correspondingto the aforementioned time-series data. In the case of disagreement ofnumerical values, a closest value is selected. Considering a case wherethere are three running modes (q=3) as an example, three running modescan be adopted for Pa, Pb, and Pc respectively. Therefore, there arenine combinations in total. Then, time-series data on the drive inputamount Q* and the average waiting time (or average travel time) w*corresponding to each of the combinations of the running modes arecreated.

Then in a step ST93 (predictive calculation means), out of thecombinations listed in the aforementioned step ST92, a temperature stateof the equipment is calculated from the time-series data correspondingto the drive input amount. This calculation is carried out according toa method similar to that of the step ST24 described in the embodiment 1.

In a step ST94 (allowable range confirming means), all combinations ofrunning modes in which the temperature state calculated in theaforementioned step ST93 falls within the allowable range are selectedas candidates. This selection is made according to a method similar tothat of the step ST53 in the embodiment 2.

In a step ST95 (running mode determining means), of the above-mentionedcandidates, the one having the minimum average waiting time (or averagetravel time) of passengers is determined as a running mode. Thisdetermination is made as follows. Given that m candidates are selectedin the step ST94 and that time-series data on the average waiting time(or average travel time) corresponding to the respective candidates aredenoted by {wa1, wb1, wc1}, . . . , {wam, wbm, wcm}, a minimum one ofvalues Jk (1≦k≦m) calculated according to the following equation 5 shownbelow is determined as a running mode.Jk=(Pa*wak+Pb*wbk+Pc*wck)/(Pa+Pb+Pc), 1≦k≦m   Equation 5

The setting of the running mode is thus completed (step ST96)

In this manner, a running mode is periodically set according to theaforementioned respective steps. Although a time interval for thesetting of the running mode can be arbitrarily set, the accuracy inestimating a temperature increases as the time interval decreases.However, the time interval should not be set too short because otherwisean increase in calculated amount would be caused. For instance, thesetting is carried out every hour.

After the running mode is set and a passenger makes a call for theelevator, a car speed, an acceleration or deceleration, and a jerk areselected from correlation tables in FIG. 7 according to a car load and amoving distance, and the elevator is operated.

In the statistical data as shown in FIG. 6, a reduction in unit time andan increase in evaluation time segment make it possible to finelyestimate changes in temperature state, so that a more efficient runningmode is selected in consideration of a forthcoming temperature state anda forthcoming number of passengers. However, an excessive reduction inunit time or an excessive increase in evaluation time segment causes anincrease in calculated amount, so they are determined in considerationof a trade-off therebetween.

In this embodiment, as described above, running patterns areappropriately changed over from one to another according to a time zonesuch that the average waiting time or average travel time of passengersdecreases while the temperature of the equipment is within an allowablerange, in accordance with the statistical data on the number ofpassengers on the elevator or the frequency of start-up of the elevator.Thus, the elevator can be run at a high running efficiency withoutexceeding a temperature limit permitting a componential equipment to bedriven.

In a case where the number of passengers per day is fixed to some extentaccording to a time zone, for example, in an office building or acondominium building, statistical data are subject only to minorvariations, so a great effect is achieved. In a time zone in which thereare many passengers, for example, during morning and evening rush hours,a running mode with a reduced waiting time is selected, which may reducethe passengers' irritation. Further, since a running pattern is selectedso as to reduce the waiting time or the travel time in a time segmentfor evaluation, and thus the running efficiency is enhanced as a whole.

In the embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention, a temperature stateis estimated using a drive input amount of a predetermined componentialequipment. However, the temperature state can also be estimated using atemperature rise amount of the predetermined componential equipmentinstead of the drive input amount, by employing a method such ascalculating a temperature rise amount in the predetermined componentialequipment for a drive input amount in advance, obtaining a temperaturerise amount in the predetermined componential equipment for the numberof starts or the number of passengers through a test or the likeconducted with the aid of an actual equipment, or the like. Indescribing this case, the drive input amount in the foregoingdescription is replaced with the temperature rise amount. Thus, anestimation of the temperature state can be realized through calculationby a more inexpensive calculator.

In the following case, the calculation amount in renewing the runningmode can be reduced. An example thereof will be described using FIG. 10.Referring to FIG. 10, it is assumed that a running mode is set at a timet0. The evaluation time segment in this case is set as three units, andrunning modes A, B, and C are set in respective time units that aresegmented by the time t0 and times t1, t2, and t3 according to themethod of this embodiment. If the segment for renewing the running modeis set as one unit, the operation of renewal is performed at the timet1, and running modes for time segments t1-t2, t2-t3, and t3-t4 are set.In this method, at this moment, the running modes selected at the timeof last renewal in the step ST92, namely, the running mode B between thetimes t1-t2 and the running mode C between the times t2-t3 are notchanged, and only a running mode that can be adopted between the timest3-t4 is extracted from adoptable combinations, whereby time-series dataare created.

This is because the running modes selected at the time of last renewal,namely, the running mode B between the times t1-t2 and the running modeC between the times t2-t3 are selected so as to reduce the waiting timeor the moving time while complying with an allowable temperature range,and thus are likely to be selected even if a selection is made at thetime of the current renewal without employing this method. This methodmakes it possible to reduce the number of combinations of time-seriesdata, which is reduced from nine to three in this example.

When the temperature state calculated from these candidates is out ofthe allowable range, it is appropriate to return to the step ST92 andcreate a candidate by changing the running mode B between the timest1˜t2 and the running mode C between the times t2˜t3.

When the evaluation time segment in creating time-series data on therunning mode is longer than the renewal time for setting the runningmode again as in this case, the time required for calculation can beshortened by setting only combinations corresponding to newly added timeperiod as candidates in setting the running mode again.

1. An elevator controller comprising: a main control unit forcontrolling running of an elevator, wherein the main control unitpredictively calculates a continuous temperature state of apredetermined componential equipment of the elevator and performs anoperation control of the elevator based on the predicted temperaturestate such that the componential equipment does not become overloaded.2. The elevator controller according to claim 1, further comprising: athermal sensing device that detects a temperature of the predeterminedcomponential equipment; and change amount input means for inputting apredetermined change amount concerning the predetermined componentialequipment, wherein the main control unit calculates a predicted value ofa continuous temperature state of the componential equipment using thetemperature detected by the thermal sensing device and the change amountinputted by the change amount input means.
 3. The elevator controlleraccording to claim 2, wherein the predetermined change amount is a driveinput amount for driving the predetermined componential equipment. 4.The elevator controller according to claim 3, wherein the predeterminedcomponential equipment comprises a power drive unit that drives a motorfor causing a hoisting machine to rotate in response to a command fromthe main control unit, and the drive input amount comprises a currentvalue of the power drive unit.
 5. The elevator controller according toclaim 2, wherein the predetermined change amount comprises a temperaturerise amount of the predetermined componential equipment.
 6. The elevatorcontroller according to claim 1, wherein the main control unit has aplurality of speed patterns and performs the operation control byselecting a speed pattern that prevents the predetermined componentialequipment from becoming overloaded.
 7. The elevator controller accordingto claim 6, wherein the main control unit comprises: a first data tablein which a car moving time and a predetermined change amount on thecomponential equipment, which are determined by a car load and a speedpattern, are tabulated respectively using the car load and the speedpattern, depending on each moving distance; candidate extracting meansfor extracting, based on a moving distance and a car load, all carmoving times and change amounts corresponding to the respective speedpatterns from the first data table as candidates; predictive calculationmeans for predictively calculating continuous temperature states of thepredetermined componential equipment for the respective speed patterns,using the respective extracted change amounts; allowable rangeconfirming means for selecting speed patterns corresponding to those ofthe predictively calculated temperature states which are within apredetermined allowable range; and speed pattern determining means forcomparing car moving times corresponding to the respective selectedspeed patterns with one another and selecting a speed patterncorresponding to a minimum one of the moving times.
 8. The elevatorcontroller according to claim 7, wherein the main control unit selectsand sets a speed pattern minimizing a predetermined evaluation functionthat is defined by the continuous temperature state of the predeterminedcomponential equipment calculated using the change amount outputted fromthe first data table, and by a car moving time corresponding thereto. 9.The elevator controller according to claim 8, wherein the main controlunit resets the evaluation function according to a predetermined time ora temperature state detected by the thermal sensing device.
 10. Theelevator controller according to claim 2, wherein the change amount ofthe predetermined componential equipment comprises a time average. 11.The elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the main controlunit calculates a continuous temperature state of the predeterminedcomponential equipment based on changes with time in one of statistics,namely, a number of starts of the elevator per unit time and a number ofpassengers on the elevator per unit time, and performs the operationcontrol of the elevator based on the temperature state such that thecomponential equipment does not become overloaded.
 12. The elevatorcontroller according to claim 11, wherein the main control unit has aplurality of running modes in each of which a speed pattern is setaccording to a load within the car and a moving distance, and the maincontrol unit comprising: a second data table in which an average changeamount and an average waiting time, which are calculated from thestatistics for each of the running modes, are respectively tabulated inaccordance with the statistics and the running modes; running resultinput means for inputting one of running results, namely, a number ofstarts per unit time and a number of passengers per unit time within apredetermined evaluation time segment; candidate extracting means forextracting average change amounts and average waiting timescorresponding to the respective running modes from the second data tablebased on the running result inputted from the running result inputmeans; predictive calculation means for predictively calculatingcontinuous temperature states of the predetermined componentialequipment for the respective running modes using the respectiveextracted average change amounts; allowable range confirming means forselecting running modes corresponding to those of the predictivelycalculated temperature states which are within a predetermined allowablerange; and running mode determining means for comparing average waitingtimes corresponding to the respective selected running modes with oneanother and selecting a running mode corresponding to a minimum one ofthe average waiting times.
 13. The elevator controller according toclaim 11, wherein the main control unit has a plurality of running modesin each of which a speed pattern is set according to a load within thecar and a moving distance, and the main control unit comprising: asecond data table in which an average change amount and an averagetravel time, which are calculated from the statistics for each of therunning modes, are respectively tabulated in accordance with thestatistics and the running modes; running result input means forinputting one of running results, namely, a number of starts per unittime and a number of passengers per unit time within a predeterminedevaluation time segment; candidate extracting means for extractingaverage change amounts and average travel times corresponding to therespective running modes from the second data table based on the runningresult inputted from the running result input means; predictivecalculation means for predictively calculating continuous temperaturestates of the predetermined componential equipment for the respectiverunning modes using the respective extracted average change amounts;allowable range confirming means for selecting running modescorresponding to those of the predictively calculated temperature stateswhich are within a predetermined allowable range; and running modedetermining means for comparing average travel times corresponding tothe respective selected running modes with one another and selecting arunning mode corresponding to a minimum one of the average waitingtravel times.